Well-drilling apparatus



L. H. WELLENSIEK WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 19, 1920 2Sheets-Sl1eet 1 Aug. 24 192 1,597,559

L. H. WELLENSIEK WELL DRILLING APPARATUS original File'd Oct. 19, 1920' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

LOUIS H. WELLENSIEK, 0F HOUSTON, TEXAS.

WELL-DRILLING APPARATUS.

Original application filed October 19,

This invention relates to apparatus adapted for use in hydraulic well drilling operations and has particular reference to a system of drilling in which an inner pipe is adapted to have a longitudinal movement in reference to an outer pipe.

The invention has a special field of usefulness in, and is closely related to that system of drilling which is set forth in my Patent No. 1,448,172 dated March 13, 1922, and also to that type of drilling apparatus described in my co-pending application Serial417 ,97 5, filed October 19, 1920, of which the present application is a division.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide means for effecting a fluid tight closure between an inner and outer pipe, one or more of which is rotatable and to provide mechanism of such naturethat the collars or coupling members of the inner pipe may pass through the closure.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular reference to certain novel features of construction, operation, and arrangement of parts an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of a hydraulic drilling apparatus arranged in position for drilling.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the expansible collar employed.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 2.

In the apparatus thus illustrated in Figure 1 a rotary 10 of conventional construc tion is shownmounted upon a derrick floor 11 and driven by a pinion 12 fixed on the inner end of a shaft 13 in a well known manner. A surface casing 14 is provided the up per end of which is approximately flush with the ground surface and which extends down into the bore of the well usually for a comparatively short distance. Within the surface casing is the depth casing 15 and within the latter is a drill stem-16 at the lower termination of which is a suitable drilling tool which may embody a fish tail bit 17 provided with underreaming blades 18 mounted in recesses in the shank of the bit 17 and adapted to be projected out at right angles for the underreaming operation. The strings of (pipe 15 and 16 are arranged to be rotated uring the drilling op- 1920, Serial No. 417,975. Divided and this application filed out 25, 1922. Serial No. 596,748.

eration, the inner pipe or drill stem functioning to drill the hole and the outer pipe serving to hold back shifting strata through which the drill may be operating and functioning as a depth casing which is set simultaneously with the forming of the bore of the well. The drill stem and depth casing may each be arranged to be rotated by separate mechanism so that they may be continuously rotated during the drilling operation in a manner for instance, such as I have described in my Patent No. 1,448,17 2 dated March 13, 1922 above referred to, or one of the pipes may be rotatedby means of the other in such a way for instance, as I have described in the other co-pending application to which reference has been made.

In the apparatus illustrated a swivel swedge casing 19 is suitably mounted upon the upper end of the depth casing 15 and is provided with suitable pipe-engaging teeth and grip rings so as to attach the drill stem to the depth casing in such a manner that a rotary movement imparted to the depth casing may be transmitted to the drill stem. The depth casing is operatively connected to the rotary table as by means of wedge slips 20. The swivel swedge casing 19 is equip ed with one or more connections 21 adapte to be connected to a flexible hose for the-influx or outflow of fluid employed in the hydraulic drilling operation.

The several sections of the depth casing are held together by means of collars or conplings 22 and while it is desirable to provide a closure between the depth casing 15 and surface casing 14 so as to insure the passage of fluid through the depth casing and prevent the return of fluid from the drill stem to the ground surface on the outside of the depth casing it is necessary that the closure be of such nature as to permit the passage therethrough of the coupling members 22. Thus as clearly shown in Figure 2, a tubular head 23 is attached to the upper end of the surface casing 14, as by means of a collar or coupling member 24. This tubular head flares downwardly and is provided-with a plur'alit of longitudinally extending grooves 25, as s own in Figure 3. Mounted withln the head 23 is a sectional ring formed of the arcuate sections 26 which are provided with ribs 27 which are adapted to slide in the grooves 25.

A stationary ring 28 is mounted within "occupies'the annular space between the outer casing 14:, or rather the tubular head 23, and

the casing 15. The sections of the ring are preferably constructed with inclined surfaces adapted to cooperate with the inclined interior periphery of the member 23 so that as the sectlons move up and down within the tubular member they are adapted to make close contact therewith so as to effect a fluid tight joint. It will be observed that in case of fluid under pressure tending to come to the surface between the depth casing 15 and the surface casing 14 pressure will be thus exerted against the arcuate ring sections 26 thus forcing them upward and by reason of the inclined surfaces a tight closure is made. The several sections of the ring 26 are arranged to be contiguous when the ring is in the upper position and are adapted to make close contact with the depth casing 15. If desired the ring may be provided with one or more packing rings 32. Whenever a collar such as the coupling 22, or other enlarged portion of the casing, comes in contact with the sectional ring the collar strikes against the ring and pushes it downwardly until the several arcuate sections have been expanded sufliciently to permit the collar to pass through. The resilient members 31 are thus placed under tension and when the collar'has passed through the ring the resilient members by exerting a pull on the movable ring 30 force the ring sections 26 upwardly while the tapering form of the head forces the sections inwardly thus effecting a tight joint about the casing 15.

. Apparatus of preferred form and con- ,struction has been illustrated and described for the purpose of showing a way in which this invention may be used but the'inventive thought upon which the application is based is broader than the illustrative embodiment thereof and I therefore intend no limitations other than those imposed by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

- 1. In awell drilling apparatus, acasing, a substantially cylindrical member mounted therein and formed with a downwardly extending flare and grooves extending longi-' tudinally in the interior wall of said cylindrical member, a-ring comprising a plurality of arcuate sections having ribs adapted to slide in said grooves, a movable ring slidably mounted within said cylindrical member, members connecting said arcuate sections and movable ring, a fixed ring and resilient members connecting the said fixed and movable rings.

2. In drilling apparatus, an inner casing, an outer casing having an internally tapered portion, an expansible ring tapered externally and adapted to form a seal between the inner casing and the tapered portion of the outer casing, and resilient means for yieldingly maintaining the ring in sealing position.

3. In drilling apparatus, an inner casing, an outer casing having an internally tapered portion, an expansible ring normally engaging said inner casing and the flared portion of the outer casing and forming a seal therebetween, and resilient means for maintaining the ring in sealing position.

4. In drilling apparatus, an inner casing, an outer casing having an internally flared portion, an expansible ring normally forming a seal between said inner casing and the flared portion of the outer casing and adapt ed to expand to permit an enlargement on the inner casing to pass therethrough, and resilient means for maintaining said ring yieldingly in sealing position.

5. In drilling apparatus, a casing, a substantially cylindrical member mounted thereon and formed with a downwardly extending flare, a ring comprising a plurality of arcuate sections, a movable ring slidably mounted within said casing, members connecting said arcuate sections and said movable ring, a fixed member, and a resilient member connecting the fixed member and the movable ring.

6. In drilling apparatus, an inner casing, an outer casing, a substantially cylindrical member mounted on the outer casing and formed with a downwardly projecting flare, and an expansible ring formed of a plurality of arcuate sections normally engaging said inner casing and the flared portion of the cylindrical member forming a seal therebetween and adapted to expand to permit an enlargement on the inner casing to pass therethrough, andmeans for maintainin' a constant upward pressure on said ring Ior maintaining it yieldingly in sealing position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of October, 1922.

LOUIS H. WELLENSIEK. 

